STEVE BRUCE reckons the days of orthodox striker partnerships are over.

The Sunderland boss is ready to unleash his first-choice pairing of Asamoah Gyan and Stephane Sessegnon on the Premier League next season, with the red-hot Benin forward to be deployed just off the shoulder of bigger man Gyan.

It is very different from the Kenwyne Jones-Darren Bent axis that Sunderland were persevering with at this time last year, but Bruce reckons it is just a sign of the times.

And with Sessegnon in such good form, it gives him some real options next term.

“He had three in three towards the end of the season,” he said. “Sess has come back and he’s in good shape which gives us hope.

“We’ll look to keep him there because I always think that’s his best position.

“There are not many teams now, who play two out-and-out strikers. One’s always off in the midfield area.

“It suits Sess and it suits the team and I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen of him.”

Bruce points to the signing of Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won as evidence that the Black Cats have plenty of options in the forward department.

He said: “There are other players who can play in that position, plus there’s the two boys who’ve just come in.”